November 08, 2006
Two of the top seniors in the nation and in the state of Texas have signed their National Letter of Intent to join the Texas A&M women's basketball program for the 2007-08 season as announced by head coach Gary Blair Wednesday.
 Sydney Colson  Maryann Baker |
The nationally-ranked Aggies have inked Houston's Sydney Colson, a 5-foot-8 guard out of Westside High School, and Dallas' Maryann Baker, a 5-foot-10 guard out of Bishop Lynch Catholic Preparatory High School, in the early signing period. Both players are ranked among the top guards nationally.
Rated the 29th overall prospect and No. 8 point guard in the Class of 2007 by the All-Star Girls Basketball Report, Colson was named the 2005 Houston Chronicle Girls Preseason Player of the Year after coming off a 29-4 sophomore campaign. Last year, she earned All-Greater Houston honors averaging 16.2 points and 4.2 assists per game as a junior. Colson was named a 5A All-District First Team and All-Greater Houston Second Team selection in 2005. She averaged 15 points, six assists and five steals as a sophomore. Colson was chosen as the Houston Chronicle Athlete of the Week on Dec. 12, 2004.
"Sydney is the point guard that we've been looking for, for two years," Blair said. "She will be a great complement to Aqua Franklin who has manned the position going on three years. Sydney is one of the top point guards in the country and we expect her to come in and produce right away. Her vision and creativity on the court is what separates her. She has played on the national AAU circuit throughout her high school career and has flourished against national competition."
Colson played AAU summer basketball for the Houston Insiders and the West Coast Elite (California-based club team) this past summer. She led the Insiders to the 2005 Basketball on the Bayou tournament title in New Orleans, which featured more than 100 teams from across the country. She also garnered tournament MVP honors. In 2006, Colson once again received an all-tournament selection at the Basketball on the Bayou tournament in Birmingham, Ala.
"Sydney is the highest-rated young lady that we have ever signed in the history of the Texas A&M women's basketball program," Blair said. "We're hoping that this signing will send a message to the top recruits all over the nation that Texas A&M is building a national power. We will recruit Texas first, since it is such a fertile ground for great high school prospects. We will recruit nationally as well to help build off the Texas A&M name of being a world-class university. Sydney is the key to our recruiting needs in the next few years and I believe you always start at the point guard position. She will be a young lady that will be a leader off the court as well as on the court at A&M."
Colson, a National Honor Society member, looks to major in speech and communication or sports medicine at A&M. She chose A&M over Oklahoma and LSU.
Baker, rated as the No. 25 best shooting guard in the country by the All-Star Girls Basketball Report, averaged 13 points, three assists and four rebounds last season at Bishop Lynch Catholic. She scored a career-high 35 points against Duncanville in November of 2005. Baker led her team to the TAPPS state title for large schools and earned all-state honors as a junior. She was also named TAPPS District I-6A MVP.
"Maryann is the big guard that we wanted to add to our backcourt of outstanding guards," Blair said. "She is a very versatile player that can play all three outside positions. Maryann is a product of one of the best high school programs in the state. Dallas' Bishop Lynch has won 23 state championships. Her high school coach, Andy Zihlman, is one of the most decorated high school coaches in the state and has sent numerous players into the college ranks. Baker also played for the Team Texas '88 AAU club coached by Ron Gathright. Gathright has coached a number of AAU All-Americans and Maryann is just one of his many prot?g?s."
In the classroom, Baker holds an impresssive 3.9 grade-point average and is ranked in the top 20 percent of her class. She chose A&M over Rice and Oregon State. Baker hails from an athletic family. Her father, Ron, played college basketball on the NCAA Division III level and her brother, Ben, is a sophomore third baseman at Texas Tech.
"I like to have student-athletes from winning programs and Maryann is an example of what winning is all about," Blair said. "She is a hard-nosed player who will help us with her all-out style of play. She does a good job of getting the ball in the paint and finishing. Maryann's stock rose this summer on the national circuit as she is ranked among the best shooting guards in the country. Besides being an outstanding student, she was just elected homecoming queen."
The Aggies are currently ranked a program-best No. 14 nationally in both the preseason USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 Poll and Associated Press Top 25 Poll. They were also predicted to finish second in the Big 12 Conference this season. Colson and Baker will join A&M next fall.
"I am extremely happy with our two signees," Blair said. "We filled needs with this recruiting class and feel that we once again took care of the state of Texas by signing one player from Dallas and one Houstonian. We signed two guards that will be impact players for us in the future."
2006-07 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNING CLASS (2)
| Name | Ht. | Pos. | Cl. | Hometown (Current School) |
| Sydney Colson | 5-8 | G | Fr. | Houston, Texas (Westside) |
| Maryann Baker | 5-10 | G | Fr. | Dallas, Texas (Bishop Lynch) |